Since July 15, lawyers have continued their general strike in protest of these amendments.
The law, amended through an amendment by PAS deputy Efimia Bandalak, provides for the inclusion of members appointed by the Ministry of Justice from among representatives of the academic community and civil society in the main commissions of the Bar – licensing, ethics and complaints – to be appointed by the Ministry of Justice. According to the initiators, they will be independent, with an impeccable reputation, and are intended to increase transparency and trust in the work of the commissions without violating the autonomy of the profession.
In addition, the law imposes limits on the length of the mandates of commission members and establishes a three-year break for lawyers who previously held these positions in order to “prevent monopolization.” It also eliminates fees for disciplinary complaints as a measure to protect the right to petition.
However, lawyers believe that these changes seriously undermine the independence of the profession, were adopted without consultation with the professional community, and open the door to political influence in the legal profession.
The extraordinary congress of the Union of Lawyers of the Republic of Moldova, which runs from July 25 to 28, reaffirmed its support for the general strike and decided to continue the protest until President Maia Sandu officially refuses to sign Law No. 244/2025.
